Several fish have been discovered dead in a Gwent River following a recent blaze at a recycling plant in the Welsh town of Caerphilly.
The fire that broke out at the town’s Penallta industrial estate saw South Wales emergency services scramble to take on the blaze.
Around 150 tonnes of material for recycling, including foam, plastic, gas cylinders, electrical items and lead batteries ignited, along with the plant’s machinery. Once onsite, crews managed to get the fire under control, but the incident has not been without consequence. A significant quantity of both petrol and oil involved in the fire has now made its way into a stream local to the estate, harming local wildlife and potentially putting members of the community at risk.
According to the South Wales Argus, Natural Resources Wales’ Tactical Manager, David Letellier, commented:
“Fires can have a serious impact on people and the environment, so it’s imperative we work with our multi agency partners throughout the incident to help safeguard local residents and the environment.”
While owners of industrial operations such as factories, recycling plants and warehouses are under no legal obligation to fit fire alarms, the law requires them to conduct a fire safety risk assessment onsite. While small operations may only need smoke detectors fitting following an audit, larger sites with multiple zones or outbuildings will likely require a dedicated fire alarm system to ensure all onsite are aware of any incident that occurs.
Industrial enterprises planning a fire alarm installation in Chester, Caerphilly and other parts of the UK can look to qualified electricians to fit any equipment required in line with fire regulations.
